HFF: Holkham Estates MX72 HLD at Wells-next-the-Sea - 21 Jun 2023 (P1150729)

Wednesday 21 June 2023 (1250) – Holkham Holiday Parks Limited (trading as Pinewoods) (part of Holkham Estates) MX72 HLD, is a Mellor Sigma 7 electric bus new in September 2022. Accommodation is for 14 seated and 8 standing passengers but if a wheelchair is carried this is 11 seated with 10 standing.

The bus began operating a shuttle service in 2022 along Beach Road, Wells-next-the-Sea from a terminus near The Quay (Wells Town) to Wells Beach, a distance of about 0.9 miles/1.5 km.

The service was introduced following the decision by Holkham Estates to close the Wells Harbour Railway, a 10.25 inch/260mm gauge miniature railway, which had operated the service from 1976 to 2021. The railway, which operated along the western side of Beach Road, was dismantled and sold to the Lappa Valley Railway in Cornwall at the end of the 2021 season.

Both termini feature fenced queuing areas, more so at the Town end. In addition to driver there was a second member of staff taking payments and dealing with the door ramp, barrier ropes etc. The trip just in had a full seated load with four standing passengers but this next trip was to be much lighter and included a wheelchair passenger.

Apparently, Beach Road (seen on the right) is a private road owned by Holkham Estates and so a bus service registration is not required although the company and vehicles are covered by an operator’s licence.

Access to the Town terminus area from Beach Road is along a gravelled gated bus only road constructed on the former railway trackbed. The gate is just visible in the background. The former railway station was located in this area.